Artists’ Charitable Fund 23rd Annual Art Auction

Artists’ Charitable Fund Gives Assistance to Artists in Crisis

Beach Bum by Josh Tobey

It is no secret that health insurance can be quite expensive. Many artists simply can’t afford it. This is how the Artist’s Charitable Fund* was born.

This Colorado based charitable organization, helps artists facing medical crises by paying some of their medical or dental bills. This group helps American artists no matter where they live in the US. They have paid over $500,000 in medical and dental bills for artists in the more than 20 years of their history, including buying a wheelchair for one, paying for eye surgery for another, payments for cancer treatments, and even helping an artist receive an artificial leg.

The Artists’ Charitable Fund raises money through its annual art auction. World-renown sculptor George Lundeen serves as the auctioneer for the event. By attending the event an bidding on one or more of the sculptures or paintings you make a (tax deductible*) contribution to this worthy endeavor.

Since sculpture is our first love, we posted a picture of “Beach Bum” by the very talented (and generous) Joshua Tobey. It is one of the pieces that will be available at this year’s Art Auction. Josh is one of the many artists who regularly donate pieces of their work to the cause.

Once again, in 2017, our 22nd annual art auction was a success, bringing in nearly $37,000. In part, due to the generous donations of sculptors, such as Josh Tobey, who when two different people were bidding on his bronze horse, “Noble Spirit”, said, he would give them each one for the $2,200 bid price. This is truly a generous donation by Josh, a renown sculptor who also serves on our board.

Sculpture is not the only thing you will find however. Paintings in a variety of styles and subject matter are also available. No matter what artwork you need, you can find something here to add to your collection, such as this oil painting donated by Lani Vlaanderen

There is no charge to attend the auction–which happens no matter the weather. All artwork is donated by the artists. This gives art buyers an opportunity to score a world-class artwork at a bargain price while helping artists when they are most in need.

Just after we got nearly eighty original paintings and sculptures transported and set up under the protection of the park’s amp theater, it started pouring and hailing. After wiping off chairs, which were not protected from the storm, we moved them to the stage – then the sun came out — we moved some of the chairs back only to have it rain again — we had to wipe the chairs off again — an hour before the auction started, the rains stopped and the sun came out — and sculptor, George Lundeen, our auctioneer worked the crowd as usual so that everyone had a great time. The audience left happy – as many bargains were to be had – original paintings by well known artists that would sell for thousands of dollars in galleries were purchased for less than a thousand dollars; no wonder gallery owners attend so as to purchase art to resell.

Like the other members of this organization, there is a personal connection for Judy. Her husband, Brian Archibald, was a wildlife stone and bronze sculptor who was helped by the group while he was dying from cancer. Judy is also a creative talent, a published and award winning author who loves to help ‘pay it forward’ to other artitsts.